Game 15: Northeastern State (8-6, 4-3 MIAA) vs. Emporia State (10-3, 5-1 MIAA) at 1:30 p.m. | January 13, 2018
Emporia, Kan. | White Auditorium
The Series
Northeastern State has lost their last four meetings with Lady Hornets and trail the overall series 11-5. In seven visits to ESU, the RiverHawks have won twice, with their last being a 58-56 overtime win in the 2014-15 season.
The Coaches
Fala Bullock is in her first season as head coach and was named to lead her alma mater on April 1, 2017 to replace Randy Gipson who retired after 18 years. With six years of head coaching experience, Bullock is 106-80 overall and within conference play she is 65-55. She has spent the last four seasons (2013-17) as head coach at NCAA Division II Armstrong State University, where she recorded a career mark of 60-52. In her first season at Armstrong State, she led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, and reached the Sweet 16.
Bullock played for Gipson for two seasons, and was a graduate assistant under Gipson from 2004 to 2006. As student-athlete, Bullock played in 57 games and NSU went 36-19, winning the 2003 Lone Star Conference Tournament, and made the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. As a member of Gipson's coaching staff, NSU reached the Sweet 16 in 2004, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006.
Jory Collins (192-50) is in his eighth year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He has 35 career wins against Top 25 teams. This is his 17th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and Emporia State has advanced to the NCAA tournament in 14 of the first 16 seasons. He is the first Lady Hornet coach to have seven 20 win seasons in his first seven years as head coach.
Last Time Out for NSU
Northeastern State set the buckets on fire for 14 minutes and ran away with a 67-58 win at Washburn on Thursday evening. From the start second quarter through midway in the third, NSU outscored the 'Bods 33-9, and dropped five three pointers at Lee Arena.
Cailyn Long paced the RiverHawks with 20 points and
Cenia Hayes added 18 against the Ichabods who lost their second straight home contest;
Bailee Eldred had her second double-double of the season with ten boards and 11 points.
Last Time Out for ESU
The Lady Hornets forced 23 turnovers as they won their 26th straight game in White Auditorium with a 61-53 victory over #15 Central Oklahoma on Wednesday. Jessica Wayne led Emporia State with 16 points and a career high six steals to go with four rebounds and three assists.
Rising Force
NSU freshman Ceina Hayes has averaged just over 18-points in her last two outings on the floor, and has hit double-digit scoring in three of the last four games. Hayes had a big layup inside the paint in the with just under two minutes remaining while leading Washburn by a pair on Thursday that allowed NSU to pull away.
A NSU win would…
- Three straight road wins for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
- Three straight MIAA wins for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
- Halt a four game skid against Emporia State.
AN ESU win would…
- Be their 27th straight win at home.
- Move to 5-2 at home when facing Northeastern State.
- Be their fifth straight win over the RiverHawks.
Coming Up
The RiverHawks do not have a weekday game coming up and will travel to Central Oklahoma next Saturday (Jan. 20).
